GOVERNMENTS OWNERSHIP AND ITS IMPACT ON MEDIA OBJECTIVITY

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Background Of The Study

The mass media are particularly significant tools of communication since they are the means by which information may be disseminated to even the most remote parts of a community. They make it possible for us to speak with one another by removing barriers like as time and distance from the conversation. They serve the society in main as well as secondary capacities (Obasi, 2022).

Print and electronic media are the two primary forms of mass communication. Electronic media refers to broadcasting. Newspapers and magazines make up the majority of what is known as the print media; these publications are sources of information that offer retrievable, researched, comprehensive, and interpretive accounts of recent events (Okenwa, 2021).

Radio and television are part of what's known as the broadcast media, and it hasn't been nearly as entrepreneurial as it ought to be. This is because the government owns the bulk of broadcast media outlets and has complete control over them (Okunna, 2022).

To put it more succinctly, broadcast is a sort of message dissemination that involves the transmission of concepts, words, sounds, visuals, and values in the form of signals across the airwaves to a specific audience. This type of message dissemination occurs on a societal scale. Broadcasting is an activity that is carried out by a subset of the mass communication media known as the electronic media. Broadcasters make use of transmitters and airwaves in order to communicate various pieces of information and news to a diverse audience (Obasi, 2022).

When it comes to the content of any media, ownership is an essential component. This suggests that there is a relationship between ownership and the content as well as the nature of the media being discussed. The personality of the owner, the things that are important to him, and the goals that he has for the medium all have a role in determining the nature of ownership itself. In this context, character reflects whether ownership is private or public, and also whether the focus is on private profit or on charitable work. The owner's economic (commercial) interests as well as their political persuasion are referred to as their interest. And vision, in this context, refers to the owner's preconceived notions of what a medium ought to be or accomplish as well as his comprehension of the principles and objectives of journalism (Okenwa, 2021).

All of these factors have a significant role in determining the level of interest that the medium has in specific topics and the way that it covers those topics. According to McQuail (2000), the belief that ownership ultimately determines the nature of the media is not just a Marxist theory but practically a common sense axiom. This belief is summed up in Alttschulls (1984) Second law of journalism, which states that the contents of the media always reflect in interests of those who finance them. McQuail (2000) argues that this belief is not just a Marxist theory but virtually a common sense axiom (Okunna, 2022).

The orientation of an owner toward his interests and vision for the medium would also, to some extent, determine his view of the theory of social responsibility, which views media ownership as a form of public trust or stewardship rather than as an unlimited private franchise. This theory holds that media ownership is a socially responsible form of stewardship. McQuail (2000).

Expert in communication Agba presents further analysis of the third world system as a system where ownership and control of the media is typical of communist or socialist countries in which the media are owned publicly and controlled by the dominant political party. Agba also analyzes the third world system as a centralized control, privately owned system (Obasi, 2022).

He adds that private groups and people own the media, but that the government maintains tight control over it. This method is used in Nigeria as well as in a number of other African countries. Control exerted by the government can be either directly or indirectly exercised in Nigeria. There is a stringent control over the mainstream media that is enforced by involvement and harassment from the police and the military. In the majority of third world nations, the government owns the broadcast media, making it simple for the government to exert its authority (Okenwa, 2021).

The political system that is predominant in a society has a direct relationship to the media system that is in place in that country. The specific nature of the interaction between the government and the media is established by the political system. The political system that is now in existence also has a role in determining the interaction that exists between the media and the general population. Additionally, it has an impact on the dissemination of information within the nation in which it works (Okenwa, 2021).

This can be traced back to the political experience of the western region of Nigeria during the first republic, when the government of the day used broadcasting freely as an instrument for waging an offensive opposition during the political crises that occurred in the western region between the years of 1962 and 1965. (Okunna, 2022).

As a result of the actions of important political players, the government realized its formidable capacity and subsequently made the decision to solely entrust broadcasting media into the hands of its devoted supporters. Therefore, it considered the possibility of attaching the radio and television to what Edochie of BCOS (RADIO) referred to as its apron.

The demand of the government to move and control the electronic media is in violation of article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted by the United Nations Organization. Article 28 of the constitution states that everyone has the right to freedom of expression of their thoughts. This right includes the ability to hold opinions without interference as well as the freedom to seek for, receive, and influence information and ideas through any means (Obasi, 2022).

Despite this, a growing number of Nigerians are criticizing the fact that the government owns and controls radio and television stations. This is due to the fact that the channels are gradually losing their credibility. According to Ugo (2008), the fear of the government may be linked to the fact that the factor that lies behind the restlessness of the government about free radio and television from its participation is nothing but dread. However, the government has a defense against this; it asserts that the private ownership would expose the volatile Nigerian people to the possibility of being used for selfish reasons. As a result, the company can place such significant duties exclusively in the hands of its devoted employees (Okenwa, 2021).

The legitimacy and neutrality of the electronic media are severely compromised as a result of the government's influence over them. This is reflected in the quality of workers that they present to the public. editors and reporters with a low level of education, making them an easy target for the government and the operatives it employs to exert their influence (Okunna, 2022).

Because Edeani (1985) stated that the nature of ownership of any press system determines to a great extent whether that press is dynamic, vigorous, and responsive; or an emasculated, timid, spineless, ineffectual, or irresponsible press; the media ownership pattern has become a central topic in the discussion on mass media and society (Obasi, 2022).

However, there are three primary types of ownership that may be seen in the media:

1. ownership by the government

2. The concept of private ownership

3. Different types of ownership.

However, the researcher will be limited to looking at media outlets owned by the government. When a medium is owned by the government, it indicates that it receives all of its funding from that same entity. This is the case with the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), Radio Nigeria, and other similar organizations. When a media company is owned by the government, not only does the government provide financial support for the company, but it also helps to formulate and carry out regulations regarding how the media should operate. The government examines the contents of the news as well as the news programs to see whether or not they concur with the government's policies and what the government wants (Obasi, 2022). If there is any information in the news that the government does not want the general public to be aware of and that information is already in the news, then the government will remove that information from the news.

Additionally, the government exerts additional influence over the media through the decision-making process on whether or not to invest. The interests of the government will be reflected in their selection of qualified employees for the position. When it comes to the management of the mass media in Nigeria and other countries, there is a proverb that has been repeated so often that it has become a cliche: "He who pays the piper dictates the music." This indicates that proprietors of mass media are in charge of organizing, channeling, and controlling what is aired by the media as well as how it is transmitted.

Whether the mass media is managed by a board of directors appointment, by a private owner, or by a public corporation established by the government, it is evidently true that the owners of mass media exert a controlling influence over the press. This is the case regardless of who manages the mass media. The board has established some guidelines for the media to follow. The operations in the near term and the long term (Obasi, 2022).

Because of these factors that determine ownership, the media has devolved into a simple noisy weapon, propaganda, and an important instrument that the government uses to establish or mark their connection with the general populace.

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